U.S. Capitol Put on Lockdown After Man Brandished Gun at Visitors Center, Police Said

U.S. Capitol Put on Lockdown After Man Brandished Gun at Visitors Center, Police Said

The U.S. Capitol was placed on lockdown on Monday after shots were reportedly fired in the Visitors Center area.

A man attempted to go through the metal detectors at the Capitol Visitor Center entrance but when those magnetometers beeped, he was stopped by security and then pulled out what appeared to be a weapon, CNN reported.

A Capitol police officer then shot the man, CNN reported. He was taken into custody and brought to a local hospital to be treated, authorities said.

A female bystander was also injured by shrapnel, but no U.S. Capitol Police officers were injured as initially reported, officials said.

The shooting occurred during a peak in tourist activity in the complex, as tourists and school groups visit during their spring breaks.

Congressional staffers were sent a notice to shelter in place, instructing them to lock doors and move to assigned shelter areas. Those outside the buildings on the Capitol complex were told to "seek cover away from the area," CNN wrote.